In Sherman Alexie’s novel Indian Killer, there are many characters who struggle with mental disorders. Alexie states “She was manic-depressive and simply couldn’t take care of herself,” this is just one of the mental illnesses suffered in the book (212). Mental disorders are prevalent in the United States. All races are at risk of mental illness. In the article "Mental Health and Substance Abuse Characteristics Among a Clinical Sample of Urban American Indian/Alaska Native Youths in a Large California Metropolitan Area: a Descriptive Study" Daniel Dickerson and Carrie Johnson state “AI/ANs [American Indians/ Alaska Native] between the ages of 15 and 24 have the highest suicide rates in the United States compared to other racial/ethnic groups” (Dickerson and Johnson, 56). Native Americans are highly perceptible to mental illness due to the historical trauma their culture has endured. In the article “Native Americans” Warren Skye, Robert Schore, and Rachel Levenson state “Traditionally, AI/AN believed all illness was caused by demoniacal interference, malignant spirits, sorcery, or failure to perform an important ritual” (Skye et al). Today that belief is gone. Native Americans now have a modern view about illnesses and medicine. In Bonnie Duran, Margaret Sanders, Betty Skipper, Howard Waitzkin, Lorraine Halinka Malcoa, Susan Paine, and Joel Yager article “Prevalence and Correlates of Mental Disorders Among Native American Women in Primary Care” they state “Available evidence suggests that mental illness, mental dysfunction, or self-destructive behavior affects approximately 21% of the total AIAN population, costing an estimated $1.07 billion and causing incalculable human suffering” (Duran et al, 71). In reservations there are n... ... middle of paper ... ...039-2451-49e9-acb6-6ba5d2109f29%40sessionmgr110&vid=5&hid=106>. Saisan, Joanna, Melinda Smith, and Jeanne Segal. "Substance Abuse and Mental Health." Help Guide. N.p., Feb. 2014. Web. 7 Apr. 2014. . Salgado Jr., Ernie C. "Native American Indian Killers." The Indian Reporter. N.p., July 2009. Web. 6 Apr. 2014. . Skye, Warren, Robert Schore, and Rachel Levenson. "Native Americans." NKI Center of Excellence in Culturally Competent Mental Health. N.p., 2009. Web. 1 Apr. 2014. . Szalavitz, Maia. "How Child Abuse Primes the Brain for Future Mental Illness." Time. N.p., 15 Feb. 2012. Web. 7 Apr. 2014. .
into the Native American way of life and some of the hardships that can befall the victims
Inventing the Savage: The Social Construct of Native American Criminality. Luana Ross. Austin: University of Texas Press. 1998.
suffering the Native Americans are plagued with as a result of the lack of acceptance towards
American Indians have had health disparities as result of unmet needs and historical traumatic experiences that have lasted over 500 hundred years.1(p99) Since first contact American Indians have been exposed to infectious disease and death2(p19), more importantly, a legacy of genocide, legislated forcible removal, reservation, termination, allotment, and assimilation3. This catastrophic history had led to generational historical traumas and contributes to the worst health in the United States.2 American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) represent 0.9 percent of the United States population4(p3) or 1.9 million AI/AN of 566 federally recognized tribes/nations.5 American Indians/Alaska Natives have significantly higher mortality rates of intentional and unintentional injuries, chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease and chronic lower respiratory disease than other American.6
Grinde, Donald, and Bruce Johansen. Ecocide of Native America: Environmental Destruction of Indian Lands and Peoples. Santa Fe, NM: Clear Light Publishers, 1995. Print.
Popick, Jacqui. "Native American Women, Past, Present and Future." Lethbridge Undergraduate Research Journal 1.1 (2006). Web. 3 Mar. 2011. .
Spector, R. E. (2009). Health and illness in the American Indian and Alaska native population. Cultural Diversity in Health and Illness (7th ed.). (pp. 204-228). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
The National insitute on Alcohol and alcoholism. (2012, December). Retrieved November 20, 2013, from http://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-abuse
Guerin, B. & Guerin, P. 2012, 'Re-thinking mental health for indigenous Australian communities: communities as context for mental health', Community Development Journal, vol. 47, no. 4, pp. 555-70.
In fact, Native American medicine men belief is firmly grounded in age-old traditions, legends and teachings. Healing and medical powers have existed since the very beginning of time according to Native American stories. Consequently they have handed down the tribe's antediluvian legends, which i...
Mental illness is an addition to all of the previously listed perceived disadvantages of Native Americans by those of other ethnicities. Many believe that Native Americans are at a higher risk for mental illness than those of European descent. Many also believe that Native Americans have more people suffer from depression than their white counterparts (Stark & Wilkins, American Indian Politics and the American Political System, 2011). There have been studies conducted to test whether or not this is the case, with mixed results. Some studies say that Natives are at a higher risk and others say they are not. This discrepancy makes the answer unclear. If Natives are actually at a higher risk for and have more people suffering from depression than individuals of European descent, the question to ask is, “why?” Several factors play into depression and other mental illness, including biology, social standing, history, family, and any preexisting/comorbid diseases that could contribute to or cause depression.
This paper will discuss the Native American culture and briefly review their history, some beliefs and roles in society today. A short description into their culture with References will be used to show how Native Americans have been affected throughout hundreds of years. The trauma this culture endured has created many barriers, yet one often seen today is their extreme problem with the disease of Alcoholism. The Native American culture has gone through endless struggles, which has cost them to lose so much and still continues to impact them today. They are slowly moving back toward getting benefits that should have been available long ago, but in today’s world Native Americans still battle with many barriers not only in society, but in getting appropriate treatment for mental health or addiction issues.
... exposed to abusive environments show delays or restrictions in their physical growth as well as in their mental development (Smith, 1975).
Center, N. D. (2004, April). Drug Abuse and Mental Illness. Retrieved Febrauary 9, 2011, from Justice.gov: http://www.justice.gov/ndic/pubs7/7343/7343p.pdf
... Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2012): ERIC. Web. The Web. The Web.